Fagius, Paul

, or sometimes Phagius, whose German name was Buchlein, a protestant minister, and one of
the early reformers, was born at Rheinzabern in Germany,
1504, and laid the foundation of his learning in that town
under the care of his father, who was a school-master. He
was sent to Heidelberg at eleven, and at eighteen to Strasburgh; where not being properly supported, he had recourse to teaching others, in order to defray the expence
of his own books and necessaries. The study of the Hebrew becoming fashionable in Germany, he applied himself to it; and by the help of Elias Levita, the learned
Jew, became a great proficient in it. In 1527 he took
upon him the care of a school at Isne, where he married
and had a family. Afterwards, quitting the occupation of
a schoolmaster, he entered into the ministry, and became
a sedulous preacher among those of the reformed religion.
Buffler, one of the senators of Isne, being informed of his
perfect knowledge in the Hebrew tongue, and of his natural
bias to the arts, erected a printing-house at his own
charge, that Fagius might publish whatever he should
deem useful to religion in that way; but the event did not
answer the expence.

In 1541 the plague began to spread at Isne; when Fagius
understanding that the wealthiest of the inhabitants were
about to leave the place, without having any regard to the
poorer sort, rebuked them openly, and admonished them
of their duty; telling them that they should either continue
in the town, or liberally bestow their alms before they
went, for the relief of those they left behind; and declaring at the same time, that during the time of that calamity he would himself in person visit those that were
sick, would administer spiritual comfort to them, pray for
them, and be present with them day and night: all which
he did, and yet escaped the distemper. At the same season the plague raged in Strasburg, and among many others,
| proved fatal to the reformer, Wolfang Capito; upon which
Fagius was called by the senate to succeed him. Here he
continued to preach till the beginning of the German wars,
when the elector Palatine, intending a reformation in his
churches, called Fagius from Strasburg to Heidelberg, and
made him the public professor thefe: but the emperor prevailing against the elector, an obstruction was thrown in
the way of the reformation. During his residence here,
however, he published many books for the promotion of
Hebrew learning, which were greatly approved by Bucer
and others, and form the most important of the works he
has left.

His father dying in 1548, and the persecution in Germany rendering that country unsafe to all who did not profess the Romish doctrine, he and Bucer came over to England in consequence of receiving letters from archbishop
Cranmer, in which they had assurances of a kind reception
and a handsome stipend, if they would continue here.
They arrived in April 15*y, but Strype says in 1548 were
entertained some days in the palace at Lambeth, and appointed to reside at Cambridge, where they were to undertake a new translation and illustration of the scriptures,
Fagius taking the Old Testament, and Bucer the New, for
their several parts. A pension of 100l. a year was settled
on Fagius, and the same on Bucer, besides the salary they
were to receive from the university. But this was all put
an end to, by the sudden illness and death of both these
professors. Fagius fell ill at London of a quartan fever,
but would be removed to Cambridge, on hopes of receiving
benefit from the change of air. He-died there Nov. 12, 1550;
and Bucer did not live above a year after. Melcbior Adam
and Verheiden suggested that Fagius was poisoned, but
for this we find no other authority. By a disgraceful
bigotry, both their bodies were dug up and burnt in the
reign of queen Mary.

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